Late dissemination of ependymoma: case report

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Bademci G., Tun K., Erden E., Evliyaoglu C., Unlu A.

NEUROCIRUGIA, cilt.18, sa.4, ss.333-336, 2007 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 18 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2007
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/s1130-1473(07)70279-8
  • Dergi Adı: NEUROCIRUGIA
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.333-336
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: ependymoma, dissemination, spinal cord, INTRACRANIAL EPENDYMOMA, POSTOPERATIVE RADIOTHERAPY, SPINAL IRRADIATION, PROGNOSTIC FACTORS, LONG, RECURRENCE, PATTERNS, FAILURE
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Spinal cord dissemination over 10 years after surgical removal of the fourth ventricle ependymoma without local recurrence is extremely rare. A 49-year-old male underwent a macroscopically gross total removal of the fourth ventricle ependymoma and postoperative radiothe rapy to the posterior fossa. Twelve years after the initial operation, the patient complained from uncontrolled fever attacks, low back pain and numbness of the legs. Spinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging revealed intradural extramedullary mass lesions located at the thoracic 2-3 and lumbar 5 vertebrae levels. Cerebrospinal fluid exami nation showed no tumour cells. He underwent total excision of these spinal lesions. Although the majority of the recurrences take place within a few years after surgery, we experienced a case with multiple spinal disseminations 12 years after the resection of the fourth ventricle ependymoma and administration of the radiation therapy to the posterior fossa. Up to our knowledge, this case represents the second unusual late recurrence reported in the literature. We conclude that low grade ependymomas should be followed neurologically and radiologically for more than 10 years after the initial treatment.